Retirement is never easy for athletes, especially after dedicating half their lives to chasing dreams in sports. But Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team seems to take a different approach, favoring early retirement while still at the top of their game. Following Khabib’s exit, coach Javier Mendez has now revealed that Islam Makhachev is also considering hanging up the gloves by the age of 35.
Islam Makhachev’s days in the octagon might be numbered. His coach, Javier Mendez, has revealed that the UFC lightweight champ is planning an early retirement, following the footsteps of his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
In a chat with Submission Radio, Mendez explained that while Makhachev’s career might last a bit longer than Khabib’s, he’s aiming to call it quits by 35. With Makhachev already 33, his retirement could be just two years away.
In his words, “He’s gonna probably do what Khabib did and retire at 35. Well, Khabib did a lot earlier, but I think 35 is the magic number for these guys. In their head, they have that ready—that 35 is the cut-off point.”
After Khabib’s retirement, Islam Makhachev took the torch for Dagestan in the UFC, dominating the lightweight division with wins over elite fighters like Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira, and Alexander Volkanovski. While Khabib retired undefeated, Islam has suffered just one loss in his career. The big question now is who will rise from Team Khabib to carry on the legacy once Islam steps away.
Islam Makhachev Dismisses Ilia Topuria Fight
Featherweight champ Topuria has his eyes on becoming a double champ, frequently calling out Islam Makhachev and sparking online exchanges. Meanwhile, Makhachev, set to defend his lightweight title at UFC 311 against Arman Tsarukyan, dismissed Topuria’s challenge, citing criticism over fighting smaller opponents like Volkanovski. However, he hinted he might consider it if fans push for the matchup, questioning what defeating Topuria would achieve but teasing he could be the one to end the Spaniard’s streak.
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He said, “If I beat him, what will that do for me?… Everyone will once again say that I beat a featherweight. But if people really want to see him lose, then we can do it.”
If Mendez’s suggestion of Makhachev retiring in two years holds true, it raises the question of whether he’ll face Topuria before hanging up his gloves. Fans have been buzzing about this potential clash for a while now, and it could be a fitting showdown before Makhachev steps away.
